Kaoboi Bebobp

Oh my.  Why embarrass yourself as a nation by offering $60,000US. The government probably blows 2 million baht daily on extravagant bureaucratic lunches. 

22 hours ago, Suradit69 said:

If you're too helpless to remember to get both your card and the cash from the machine before walking away, it doesn't seem likely reversing the order would be a great help. Either the person following you will be gifted with your card or with the cash you meant to withdraw. 

 

In any event, the ATMs I use in Thailand have a beep beep beep at the end of the transaction until you pull out the card. At some point individuals need to accept responsibility for their mistakes or absent-mindedness rather than shifting the blame onto someone or something else ... it can never be their own fault.

 

 

In Canada, the cash is withheld in the ATM until you pull your card. If nothing is done for a certain amount of time, the card is also captured. This does save a lot of potential for losses for both customer and bank. You grow up with the system that, if you have your cash, you also have your card. Not so in Thailand. Here in Vietnam, I must pull my card before getting the cash. Seems a lot more sensible. Security systems try to predict human behaviour. I guess these considerations do not apply to those who live a life of human perfection. 

No, they don't give you your card back from the ATM, generally speaking. They'd rather sell you a more expensive card package and the clerk get a commission. It's the same reason the ATMs give you your cash and then your card, so you forget it and have to buy another.

2 hours ago, pegman said:

This happened to me at Safeway last week but I have never heard of getting the under $10 item free. Where exactly in Canada does that exist?

Consumer protection laws come under the purview of each province, except where frauds and such become a criminal (federal) matter.  So you are going to get different regulations and penalties across the country.

Used to get that a lot in clubs. Shameless gawking by Thai guys who don't get much exposure, so to speak, to farangs. But that was a long time ago. 

I thought this whole thing was a joke. It's not!!! 

From the Washington Post

A) I always change some money to Viet dong in Thailand. Maybe pick up 2-5 million dong. Upon arrival, there's no need to run around to find a good exchange. However, sometimes they don't always have Viet dong on hand. Call Superrich first. 

 Haven't been to Ha Noi in years but at SGN, I always use the Exim Bank exchange counter. Exim and ACB (my bank in VN) always have better rates among the Viet banks.

C)  ATM withdrawals are almost always limited to 2 million per transaction. You can blow that in a day. Bring your cash and exchange at a gold shop or Exim. If it's a lot, the gold shop rate will be a bit better. If you pull from your Thai account via a Viet ATM, the exchange rate is terrible. 

15 hours ago, bazza73 said:

Having holidayed in Vietnam a couple of years ago, I can understand why some of us find it attractive. I really liked Danang and Dalat.

I understand quite a few retirees are finding Vietnam's visa regime less onerous than Thailand's 800,000 baht/ 65,000 baht/month retirement visa system. Perhaps you could enlighten us further.

One thing I did find bewildering - Vietnam is a Communist country. Yet the police and army presence is scarcely visible. The police and army are ubiquitous in Thailand, and it's supposed to be a democracy.

[OT: Anything official, e.g., visa, driver's licence, is done via the backdoor. A 6-month multi-entry Business visa (tourist visas only run up to 3 months and then you have to leave) cost me $290US/10,000 baht, arranged through a well recommended Viet provider. The only requirement is to report your address once to the local police. The Business visa is extendable in-country via an agent. Am waiting for word on extension cost at the moment.] 

Back on topic: Few things make you feel older but deciding to give up riding the motorbike at night is one. It's just too dangerous in Pattaya and probably Bangkok. An injury takes much longer to recover from.

A great thread and I see many positive attitudes. And why not? We're all pretty blessed to be here in SEA (I recently left Thailand for Vietnam).  I also feel so lucky to have had a decent pension. I remind myself every day about how lucky I am. It helps me to let go of so many of the little negative bits that can gnaw on you if you let them. 

If you find yourself moaning or whining about something, even if it's only an interior conversation, bring up a positive list and dwell on that. You are lucky. I am lucky. Everyone here is lucky to be here.

Tip No. 1: Stop reading and watching the political news back home. It keeps you in a negative mindset and takes you back to other issues, the ones you vowed to leave behind.  Don't waste your time reading about something you can't change. Instead, read a novel or long piece on philosophy or recent findings from the long-term galaxy probe. Reading helps keep the  mind sharp and helps a great deal toward relaxing me.  

Tip No .2 Keep physically active. Ever since I resumed long walks, about 3 to 5 km a day, I feel so much better and I'm losing weight, or at the least, keeping off the alcohol calories. Cooking, cleaning, shopping. I go shopping for food, which I make at home. The variety is great and it's fun. I do my own laundry, my own cleaning. Keep active. 

 I'm in my 60s. Yes, my sleeping is interrupted for the usual reasons 2-3 times a night. But I still get a good rest, which makes for a much better day. Probably sleep 6.5 to 8 hours a night. 7.5-8 hours is definitely best!

My libido has suffered due to losing all interest in the girl game for over 2 years. Nothing horrible, but just didn't want to play any more in Thailand. But having moved here to Vietnam, my interest has revived. Yup, it's a question of attitude, mine and theirs. Viet girls have a very keen mind, which is so refreshing. I'll leave it at that. 

Who knows? There may be. But I wouldn't trust them with a high-quality $400-$600 winter jacket. Why not put it in the washing machine on a gentle cycle, spin dry and hang it up for 2-3 days. I've done it this way with an MEC jacket. Or does the label say Dry Clean Only? I think they used to restrict the early Gortex jackets to dry cleaning long ago.

I'm with others who say go to a professional. Now. I've had the problem the OP suffered about 20 years ago. It was soon diagnosed as borderline diabetes. I changed my diet instantly to low carb and did mild exercise to lose some weight (wasn't too overweight but it doesn't matter since diabetes can strike anyone). It cut my blood sugar into the safe zone within 3 months.

The OP is rather young for prostate cancer. But whatever. Go to a urologist and get blood sugar tested. Forget about all these "cures" until you get a baseline diagnosis.  

Speaking of 7-11 . . . Their machine americano is quite decent for 25 baht! Consistent, too. Not all 7s have this service but it seems most in Bangkok do. I'd rather drink this than some half-good triple-priced americano from the brand name shops. 7-11 machines also dispense milk/coffee drinks, such as capps and lattes, but I have never tried them because I cannot drink milk. 

Having just spent a week in Pattaya, I discovered the joys of 150 baht per pack of Mild 7s. In Vietnam, where I now live, they're 40 baht at regular price. A bottle of Tiger at a bar is 40 baht at non-happy hour prices. 

For many reasons other than overpriced products in Thailand, I moved here. If I could come up with a solid reason or two for staying in Thailand . . .  but I can't. 

There's a Black Canyon with lovely tree shaded terrace on Asok, about 20-30 metres north of the Suk MRT entrance on the west side. It's more or less across from the FICO Building. 

I believe that in Thailand what is "suggested" from above, is acted upon down below. Each police district will apply the "suggestion" as they see fit and that will keep them in good standing with the military (but keep the River Baht flowing, albeit much reduced these days). 

As the important dates are upon us, the venues will start hearing from their local "affiliates" and must act accordingly. I expect a very subdued period in the entertainment business, of course, much like the year-ago period. Only I think there will be full closures for many days and many more subdued evenings.

I feel so sorry for those business people who have lost their livelihoods and properties, and the residents who were barricaded out or in by impassable roads over the past 2 years. If only there were some justice in this country that actually stuck to the malfeasants. 

1 hour ago, balo said:

 

 

Very strange indeed. So if you buy coffee beans in VN they are all full of sugar ? 

I don't know because I don't drink the Viet ca phe sua da (iced coffee with sweetened milk) or ca phe den (black). Too much of Viet coffee is flavoured in some way.

13 hours ago, SheungWan said:

The coffee I bring with me:

Premium Blend 100% Vietnamese coffee.

The coffee is grown in red soils, 700m above sea level, near Buon Ma Thout in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. It is then blended and roasted in HO Chi Minh City. Using local growers and roasters ensures the authenticity of the coffee and helps support the local economy. Roasted with sugar and vanilla this coffee is sweet, nutty and chocolatey to taste.

A lot of coffee in VN seems to have these flavours. I like pure, unadulterated coffee. 

12 hours ago, SheungWan said:

If I sit in Benjamit I find drinking the expresso coffee far too sharp for my taste. Although I bring Vietnamese coffee with me from Algerian Coffee Stores in London, does anybody know if there is anywhere in Patts where Vietnamese coffee can be purchased?

I've looked in the past. The only place I know is in Bangkok. There's a major Vietnamese commercial coffee brand, Trung Nguyen, sold in the Trendy Building, Suk soi 13. Various flavours. Not that crazy about this coffee. But then I have an apartment in Vietnam, southeast of Saigon where I can buy the most amazing Arabica for 130 baht for 250 g. I do miss the Benjamit Arabica, which is equally good. 

I'm loving this speediness. Just goes to show you that the ad insertion stuff (I'm no techie) has turned the site to cr*p. When a page loads under the former format, it's like watching a pingpong ball in an aquarium. I get vertigo. 

7 minutes ago, Aditi Sharma said:

I am going to ask my government in India to take it up with the Kingdom of Thailand. Indians may be having a bad reputation in Thailand but we regard Thais to be divine. For one thing, visa policy changes will open up Thai economy and it would start growing faster than China and India. 

The likelihood of Thailand opening up its economy will occur when either pigs grow feathers or when the Thai elite throw up their hands and retire from making too much money.  

Benjamit's beans come from Chiang Rai. I've been buying the Vienna Roast Arabica for years. It's the one for 140 baht/250g. I only ever found something a bit better and that is at Brain Wake Cafe (Bangkok, end of the soi 33 from Sukhumvit). But 250 baht per 250g bags (but not very well sealed, though). Benjamit recently has been using a re-sealable lined paper bag. Best beans, best bag. 

I've bought nearly all the brands of pre-ground coffee in the supermarkets. Not one worthy, IMHO. Don't know about Friendship's coffees though, only because Benjamit is nearby.

^^^ You mean the diner inside the Foodland, Took Lae Dee. Which means cheap and good. The Pattaya Klang Foodland diner is open all night and busy. There's a Took Lae Dee in the Sukhumvit soi 16 Foodland. The supermarket is open 24 hours but not sure of the TLD diner.

2 hours ago, JohnLick said:

Bragging rights and the privilege to have 100% of the available balance locked up while paying juicy interest on portion used.

 

A fake debit card (actually worse than debit card)

^^^Yup. You have to deposit and lock up tens of thousands of baht and then get charged for using your own money. A laugh riot! 

I watched two semi-final games at a bar called something like Sports Club. It's on the beach side of Soi Buakhao, between Soi Diana and entrance to LK Metro. I know it's actually just past Katesiree.